Archive for December, 2015

For a small battery powered option the Roland AC 33 can’t be beat. It’s a fantastic little lamp that has options and effects like reverb and chorus two channels one for a guitar pick up and one XLR mic input no phantom power. There is also a 1/8 Stereo line in to power a iPod or MP3 player. To power the amp you have two options plug it in or the option to power the amplifier with a battery pack using eight AA batteries. There are a few aftermarket cases available to transport the amp and protect it. I purchased a Arriba AC 130 Soft Case, for the Roland AC 33 on eBay. I will be primarily using the amp with my Jorge De Zofia equipped with a LR Baggs Dual Source System (Element and Mic) blended.

Update 1/7/16
I’ve used the AC for 3 small gigs and it workes wonderfully. The tone from the amp complements acoustic instruments especially my guitars with pickup systems such as the LR Baggs Dual Source and Fishman Presus Blend. I’ve added 2 Boss FS-5U to control the built in looper and it has performed flawlessly. Very satisfied with the amp. It’s really a great travel and go compact gig rig.

So for the last two years I’ve had some serious asthma problems. Now under control. However I’ve started to play a lot of solo gigs private party’s , weddings, cocktail hour… and I’m loving it. I wanted to have somthing smaller than my former band rigs, speakers, monitors, power amps, snakes, racks of gear, mixer etc. So a few months ago my wife took a risk and purchased the Bose L1 Compact, I thought it was a joke. I could not have been more wrong. It sounds great I’ve done 10+ gigs with it and have only had complements on how good it sounds. I really like when I’m driving home and I’m no sore or exhausted from setting up or tearing town.

So this setup sounds amazing, sets up in less than 2 min and is so easy on the back. I use the preset for the LR Baggs Element pickup. I’m using the LR Baggs Dule Source preamp which is the Element and Mic. I rool off to about 1K or around there for the mic and below that the pickup dose the work. In the Tone Match I have it set pretty much flat and if I do get low end feedback I have the Para EQ set at Level -2-6db, Freq A# 117Hz, With 1.00oct. And then a bit of the Large reverb. Time 2.20 Bal 50% Mix 30% Bright 50% and then a TR cable from Tone Match to Compact on Flat TR input (not mic chanel). Turn in on and I’m good to go. With the ToneMatch mixer you have 4 mic inputs 3 on Tone Match w phantom power and 1 on Bose Compact no phantom power just high and bass Eq. And on compact you have a 1/8 TRS for iPod and play back so in essence you have 6 channels.

So this summer my wife was kind enough to purchase the Bose L1 Compact for me after seeing me struggle carrying heavier gear and speakers, poles, mixers etc even for smaller gigs. I have been struggling to get my asthma under control. There were times when I would have a bad attach when loading in or out. The Bose L1 has made it easier and much quicker to load in or out. I have to say for indoor and out door events where the head count is 1-120 the Bose L1 Compact is fantastic. I have used 2 guitars and 1 line in for backing tracks. No mixer 😎. I use a Jorge De Zofia Flamenco Blanca with a LR Baggs Dual Souce pickup (Element & Mic) to a Grace Desigins Felix Preamp and then a few effects. All of this get routed to the Bose L1 Compact. My only issue was I did not think the cover gives the Bose Compact the best protection. I was happy to find the Slick Bag for Bose L1 Compact check out the pictures below. It’s very well though out and provides 360 all around protection and easy to carry.